3790. RB to Dante Gabriel Rossetti
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 22, 226–227.
3. Rue du Colisée
May 29. ’56.
My Dear Rossetti,—May this note introduce to you a friend of mine, Mr. Cartwright? … It is [a] shame about the portrait, I honestly believe, for is it a formidable lot of portraits this year? Never mind, you, however, who have done your utmost & all possible to be done. My vexation, after the wrong to the work of art, is about the possible annoyance Page may feel—not much, but too much, if any at all. They have bought his last work, “Venus,” for 500£—they, i.e., American compatriots & good fellows. Such a pleasant note from Allingham! for which I owe you thanks, it is plain. I remember you asked me some questions of which one comes to mind of a sudden—“elucesco” [1] is dog-latin rather—the true word would be “eluceo”—& Ulpian, the golden Jurist, is a copper latinist—see about him in any Biographical Dictionary. “Airree you annnser’d?” [2] as energetic Shylock used to say at my time in the Surrey. [3] <***>
Text: The Pall Mall Gazette, 2 April 1890, p. 7.
1. “To shine forth.” RB refers to the questions Rossetti asked in regard to “The Tomb at St. Praxed’s”; see letter 3765, notes 6 and 7.
2. Cf. The Merchant of Venice, IV, 1, 62.
3. The Surrey Theatre, Blackfriars Road, Lambeth.
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